

270 



PR/ECOCIAL GRALLATC )UE8 — LlMICOLiE. 



Had. Auiuricu in j,'l'Ultu1, Imt breeding only in colil-tcniiu'ratiMind subarctii; climates of the 

 northern continent ; in winter, south to Chili and Buenos Ayres. 



Sp. Chah. Adult, summer 'plumuiji' : Aliove, variejj;iited with shite-black, pale gray, and white, 

 the former predominating, the latter in the form of spots along the edge of the feathers, including 

 the wing-coverts and tertials ; crown and najjc grayish white, widely streaked with dusky ; upper 

 tail-coverts white, irregularly barred with the same ; primaries plain blackish slate; tail wliite, all 

 the feathers barred with dusky, the middle feathers grayish, barred with dusky, the hitter some- 



times obsolete. Head, neck, and lower parts white, only the alidomen and throat immaculate ; 

 lores, cheeks, malar region, auriculars, and neck (all round), streaked with dusky ; breast, side^. 

 and flanks, barred or transversely si)ottt'd with dusky, the bars more sagittate on the crissuiu. 

 IVinter pluviarjc: Above, rather liglit ash-gray, without the black, but with the white spotting of 

 the summer dress ; foreneck and jugulum more narrowly streaked ; breast nearly or quite immacu- 

 late ; and sides and flanks faintly and irregularly marked with grayish. Ynuwj, first j)lumage : 

 Similar to the winter dress, but darker ami more brownish above, the white spotting tinged witli 

 light brownish buff; lower parts similar. Bill black; iris brown; legs and feet deep yellow 

 (tinged with olive in young). 



Total length, about 14 inches ; wing, 7.50-7. ".'3 ; culnien, 2.20-2.30 ; tarsus, 2.50-2.75 ; midille 

 toe, 1.35-1.50. 



In nearly or quite all parts of the United States the " Tell-tale Tattler," as thi.s 

 bird is sometimes called by s])ortsinen, is known only as a migratory visitant. Wilson 

 speaks of its arriving in the JMiddle States in April, and of its remaining there until 

 September, and breeding in the marshes. He describes the nest and eggs only from 

 report. In all this he was ttndoubtedly misinfonned ; at least it is not now knowu 

 to remain on any portion of our sea-eoast iluring the summer, and its nest and eggs 

 are still unknown. Mr. lloardiuan informs me that this bird is found about Calais 

 early in summer, and it is possible that ii few may remain and breed ; but this is at 

 best very doubtful. It is much the most abuiulant in the spring and fall. 



In Southern Wisconsin, as \vc are informed by ilr. Kumlien, the Winter Yellow- 

 leg, known there as the " Tell-tale," arrives on the borders of Lake Koskonong in 

 April, and is one of the last birds to leave in the fall. Stragglers are found along tlic 

 shore throughout the summer. Dr. Hoy, in his " Li,st of the Birds of Wisconsin,'' 

 states that it nests in all the large marshes of that State. There being very large 

 ones on the borders of Lake Koskonong, this bird may i)ossibly breed among 

 them ; but Mr. Kumlien does not think so, as he has not only never noticed it doing 

 so, but has never even found any birds young enough to justify the belief that they 



